Rotary drive and draw works



March 10, 1931. L. .J. BLACK 1,795,706

ROTARY DRIVE AND DRAW WORKS- Filed March 23. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10, 1931. L. J.'BLACK ROTARY DRIVE {\ND DRAW WORKS 3 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed March 25, 1927 B J L NN WW wON March 10, 19 31. L, J BLACK 1,795,706

. ROTARY DRIVE AND DRAW WORKS Filed March 25. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 EDT-KEY "DR'IVE AND DRAW "VVOZRJKS Application-filed Merbh- 23,}1927. serjiai ivo. 4 71765.

My :ia nt a ela general y so, im- -p vi a m eta ye arth d lling Bles d more particularly to rotary hoistsf or-draw Works as they alf :lI.i0WI 1 th a 5 filh r t ry e dtil il f .ll W u e and particularlyin the oil-fields, inelude a rotary :hoist or draw works vupon thedrum of which is-wound'the derrick cable-to which connected the blocks and taeltle whieh support-thestring ofdrillingtoolsin the well hole. fllhe draw Works reeeives its power fronnan engine or-motor and 21 .0 Commonly h a dr ng ennect e betw n. t l in shaft and the rotary table, or ftrotarjh ivhieh is journalled gover the well fhQlQ; and serves to-rotate thesti ingof toolsin thegdrillns ae a on- A th da l es n es ss the w sk l i Q- dinarflv manual y 1 nwound from time to time to feed the drilling tools downward Inasmuehas tlie operator has no means of lrnowing when theitorque load on:the string of toolsreacliesthegdanger point, the hand feedingof the string 'oiften results in -the breaking oil 'ofthedr1ll-bit,v

as fi 'orinstanee ,when the -sa ne lodges .in crevice. In many casesholesareilost' at great depthas a result ofibit twist O f afterthousauds of dollars have bean -invested in them.

Various efforts, all more or less unsatisllfi factory,have been made .to overcome this diificulty by providing means in the shape of separate Junits, independent of the draw works, vfor automatically stopping the ro tation of the drill string, or for actingupon the hoist t0 elevate the same, or "bothf-when the torque load upon the string becomes excessive. Ordinarily such units have necessitated the use of two separate sources of power,.the,torque and ,weifiht control ofzthe drill stein being secured through the use. of two or more velectric motors and ..electrieal field'controlled means for reversing-themachinery under excessive drill-sstem torque. Some structures, while using asinglesouree of power, have involved specially designed units, independent of ithe usual draw works,

and ,having 5?, @plurality vof involved :set's1of vplanetany or :othe'r. gearing for driving :the rotary and scontrolling a :winding'druin to elevate the 1 drill when il-t is -under. excessive torque. In devices 10f this latter class it is impossible :tochange :fromthe planetary '-to a direet .orastandard drive,: either as to the rotar-y-or the Winding drum, and accordingly theyiare incapable ofuse in lieu of the-standard :draw Works :for pulling 'tubing, placing easingzandz-other operations. I Each class of structureimentioned is'e'xpensive. and requires 1110113 or less attention tosoperatezand keep up and furthenthere is still the necessity for the usual draw works; which means that the torque and weight control unit is ii an additional and a separate; expensesto the driller besides taking up considerable space.

J13 is therefore the iprimary object of my invention to overcome the objections noted and to jprovide, in a standard rotary drive and draw works a means whereby;thesame mayibe ireadi-ly used as an automatic torque and weight control 'for the drill' ste'ml during 'therdrilling operationrtostop :the rotary and elevate the drill'stem when theitorque load becomes excessive, the same single 's'ouroe of 'poweribeingemployed-when -the device is used as 'ait orque and weight oontrol or as a draw works.

Another object is to furnish in a draw works,iasicharaeterized, a torque and weight 'CQIllZIOIf-IDGEHIS for=thedrillste1n which eliminateS the necessity of a plurality :of complicated sets of gearing and the reversing o f the ;'line or {power shaft.

;,A still further, and more specific object of the invention resides in the ,provision of a rotarygdrive and drawworks including a novel sectionalline, or :power shaft and supportin21an chalining meansjtherefor combined withdifierential drive means forpermitting the :two {line shaft v sections :to turn at differcut speeds when the torque load on one section exceeds that of the other and making it possible for one section to remain stationary while the other its rotating, one line shaft section being adopted for operative connection to the rotary and the other to the winding drum, and means for clutching out the differential whereby said line shaft sections may be driven as a unit as when pulling or lowering tubing, etc.

Another object is to provide in a draw works a novel sectional line shaft and means for supporting, driving and holding the same assembled.

Other objects of the invention will be specifically referred to hereinafter or will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims, annexed to and forming a part of this specification. However, for a better understanding of the invention and the advantages which it possesses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. While the drawings illustrate what I now regard as a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes and modifications therein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a three speed draw works constructed in ac cordance with my invention;

F igure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the intermediate portion of the line shaft and its casing and illustrating the associated gearing arrangement;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the spider and line shaft joint taken on the line 14 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of one of the casing cover plates showing the application of one of the line shaft clutch operating levers thereto.

Referrin specifically to the drawings, the structure comprises an upstanding frame which includes spaced posts 1, 2, 3 and 1 connected it their upper ends by suitable cross members or head timbers 5. The lower ends of the posts are bolted to the usual bed frame not shown) which is positioned over the mouth of the well hole and in which is journalled the rotary for driving the drill.

The line or drive shaft for the rotary is made in two sections 6, 6 which are journalled adjacent their outer ends in bearings 7 mounted upon the outermost posts 1, 1. The outer end of each shaft section extends beyond its respective post bearing 7 and has keyed thereon a cat head 8 as usual. As clearly shown in Figure 2 the shaft sections 6, 6" extend into a casing 9, of annular cross section, formed by sections 9*, 9 each having a marginal flange 11 having an offset apertured portion 11 receiving fastening bolts 11*. Thus, the casing sections 9' 9 are rigidly connected in spaced relationship at points removed from their peripheries. This permits the driven sprocket gear 12, which is loosely journalled upon line shaft section (3, to project outwardly between the casing sections 9, 9". Sprocket gear 12 is driven by a chain 12' from any suitable source of power (not shown), the flanges 11 being broken away as at 11 for the passage of said chain. Novel clutch and differential means are availed of for establishing a driving connection between grocket gear 12 and shaft 6, 6 as will be presently explained.

Figure 2 illustrates that the reduced outer ends of easing sections 9, 9 provide antifriction bearings 9 for shaft sections 6, 6; also that said outer casing section ends have apertured flange portions 9 whereby the assembled casing 9 may be rigidly bolted to the intermediate posts 2 and 3 as indicated at 9 As depicted in Figure 2 the inner end 6 of the shaft section 6 is diametrically reduced and is rotatably received in a bronze hushed end recess 6 in shaft section 6. Thus, shaft sections 6, 6 are capable of sin'iultaneous or relative rotation in the same fashion as the rear axle of an automobile, a differential drive gearing being here employed which will now be described.

This differential drive gearing includes a bevel gear 13 keyed to shaft section 6 adjacent the inner end thereof and a similarly positioned bevel gear 14 keyed to shaft section 6. As best shown in Figure 2, bevel gears 13, 1 1 are spaced to maintain constant mesh with the four bevel pinions 15 which are journalled upon short stub shafts 16 projecting inwardly from the side walls of a spider or frame 17. As shown, the spider 17 encloses the bevel gears 13, 14 and is bolted as at 17 to one side of the loosely journalled driven sprocket 12. It is also noted that one end of the spider 17 flatly engages the adjacent face of gear 12 and is further formed with recesses 17 which receive bosses 12 projecting from the face of the sprocket. A very rigid attachment of the spider 17 to sprocket 12 is thus provided.

Assuming that the load on the respective line shaft sections 6, 6 to be equal, it will be evident that when sprocket 12 is driven with spider 17 the shaft sections 6, 6 will be simultaneously driven at a uniform speed through bevel pinions 15, and bevel gears 18, 14:. However when the load on one line shaft they have met iheen ;il

et gear-18 over which the drivechain 18 fo the ret y trai e le llu tr t di ll g- 111'6 T wm nt one r ta y an et details are old and wellgknown and since t y m r Pe t n entio @pe uet edd nt clutch 19, keyed .to li.,e sh aft section 6 is operable by interconnected levers;l9 toinate with a-hub recessof sprocket l8 =tofdrivez the same.

teeth 12?, 17 with which clutches 20,21;-

Eaidably-keyedto the-respeCtivesha-ft sections 6,6 are designed toengage. These. clutches 20,21 arethrown in'when it ;is desired "to eliminate :the differential feature and drive line shaft 6, ,6 as-;a unit, as for instance when supplying power therefrom to the drum shaft-22 when pulling tubing or tools from the well hole. Operating levers for clutches 20, 21 are respectively denotedat20, 21 :It is observeozthatthe colting of casing sections 9, 9 to posts prevents the casing'9 from rotatingan'dalso holds theentire shaft assembly ineline.

.Roller bearings 12, and 17 lllithQTQSPQC- tive hubsjof sprocket l2.and spiderl? serve to facilitate free rotation of the unitary sprocket-spider v12, 17 :upon .either of line shaft sections 6, 6*.or :both of 1118111. Figure 2 also shows that bearings12", 17' alsoiengageithe outer faces ofihevel gears 13, 14; to take the axial thrust therefrom. Friction between the driven sprocket 112i and the inner ends of casesections9,-9 .is reduced-by packi11g 23 disposed in circumferential grooves in the section. ends.

The drum shaft 22, referred to incidently hereinabove, is journalled in bearing 24secured to posts 1, 2, 3 and 4 located below and at the opposite sidesofsaid posts from line shaft bearings Keyed upon .the drurn shaft 22 between posts 2 and-3 is a-winding drum 25 to which isattached the hoisting line 26 of a derrick, which line supports the weight of the drill stem in the well hole through the usual arrangement of multiple sheave hoisting blocks (not shown) for partially compensating for the weight of the drill stem. The drum 25 is shown provided with brake flanges 27 at each side within which work the contracting brake hands 28,

shown) leading to the brake drum flanges 27.

'Water conduits 30 are shown leading into drum shaft 22.

Figure 1 shows a comparatively small sprocket ;gear ,31 and a relatively larger sprocket 32, in spacedrelationship and keyed to line shaft section 6, chains 31* and 32 trained ther-cover and driving, respectively, sprocket gears 33 and 3a which are loose upen drum shaft 22. A still larger sprocket gear 35 is keyed to'line shaft section 6 and drives a loose dru n shaftsprocket 36 by .chain35 The druinshaftsprockets 33, 34l ihave ratchet toothed huh ends while thehub of. drum; shaft. sprocket 36 has .a rectangular recess. "The respective drumv shaft .sp-rockets are engageable by clutches 33 3 F and 36%slidinglykeyed to drum shaft 22;and operated by foot pedals 33?, 3% and 36 through Jinks .33", 34 and 36 The gearing :described givestheidrinnshaft 22 three dis- [tinct speeds. Clutch 333 when in, establishesa'low speed drive-through gears 31, 33; clutch 3% an intermediate :speed through 32, 34:, and clutch 36 a high speed drive through gears 35, 36. The clutches:33 -and 3d are of the ratchettypeso as;toautoni-aticially when theinext higher clutch :is thrown in, while clutch 36 isofthe dental type becau e ttttllllBS it-is necessary to put the drum shaft in reverse whenithe drilling engine is reversed.

The Operation of the device 1nay he-su1nin-arized as follows:

When it is desired to adapt the draw Works as a torque and weight control for the drill stem the dental clutch 19 is engaged with rotary drive gear 18 to couplethesaine to line shaft section 6 Clutches-20 and 21 are disengaged from their respective toothed hubs 12 of sprocket l2, and ,1? of spider 17 thus permit ing the unitary sprocket spider assembly 12, '17 to rotate freely on line shaft sections 6, 6. One of clutches 33?, 3. is thrown into couple shaft section 6 110(1111111 shaft 22,,the cahle26, which extends over the derrick and engages the block rigging for supporting the weight of the drill, :heing wound upon drum 25 as usual. By adjustment of the drill supporting rigging, and the use of either the low or interm diate speed drive (31, 33 or 32, of drum shaft 22-the gradual gravity feeding of the drill into the well hole will be permitted as the drilling progresses. If the feed of the drill stem is too rapid, then it can be retarded by effecting a slight pressure on the brake hands 28 on druin flanges 27 by inanipul tic-n of brake lever 29. The drill stem weight thus imparted to line shaft section 6 holds the same stationary. Thus, rotation of driven sprocket 12 with rigidly assembled spider 1? drives .line shaft section 6 through bevel pinions 15, and bevel gear 1a. This drives the rotary through rotary drive sprocket 18 and chain 18.

If, in the drilling operation, the bit strikes unusual resistance,that is to say,such resistance as will create a torque load on the drill stem that is greater than the weight load of the drill stem on line shaft section 6, then line shaft section (3 slows down or stops and the companion section 6 will be rotated through bevel pinions 15, and bevel gear 18. This causes the cable 26 to be wound upon drum 25 to elevate the drill from the obstruction. As soon as the drill bit is cleared from the obstruction and consequently the excessive torque load,it naturally commences rotation again and the weight con trol section 6 of the line shaft stops to permit the feeding of the drill as before.

When it is desired to use the apparatus as a draw works for pulling the drill stem or string from the well it is only necessary to engage the respective clutches 20, 21 with the hub teeth 12 and 17 of sprocket spider 12, 17 and disengage dental clutch 19 from ro- L'ary drive sprocket 18. The line shaft sections (3, 6 and sprocket spider 12, 17 are now tied together into a solid unit and pedals 83 or 36 may be selectively operated to drive drum 25 at the desired speed. Inasmuch as three gear or speed ratios are provided the draw works is capable of handling a considerable range of load.

Referring to the line shaft clutches 20, 21, Figure 5 shows that one of the yoke-like operating levers 20, 21, has its operating handle 20 pivoted to a cover plate 20 detachably secured over an opening in casing 9. Gpposed shoes 20, 21 pivoted to the branches of the respective levers 20, 21 engage in circumferential clutch grooves as shown. Since the clutch operating handles are pivoted on the inside of cover plates 20, 21 and very close thereto, tne casing 9 will be oil tight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a rotary drive and draw works including a frame, a drum shaft journalled therein and having a drum for attachment of the drill supporting cable, a line shaft comprising independently rotatable sections journalled in said frame and having their inner ends interlitting to define a bearing whereby to maintain the said shaft sections in alinement, a driven gear loosely journalled upon one of said shaft sections and receiving power from a suitable source, bevel gears rigidly mounted upon said shaft sections adjacent the inner ends thereof and in spaced relation to each other, a spider rigidly fastened to one side of said driven gear and surrounding said bevel gears, bevel pinions iournalled in said spider transversely of the axis of said line shaft and engaged by each of said bevel gears, a casing rigidly secured to said frame intermediate the sides thereof and into which said shaft sections extend, said casing comprising separate sections, the inner ends of said sections providing shoulders engaging the opposite faces of said driven gear to hold the same against axial movement on said line shaft, means for securing said casing sections together beyond the periphery of said gear, the inner face portions of said driven gear and the outer end of said spider engaging the outer faces of said bevel gears to hold the inner ends of said shaft sections in bearing engagement and the bevel gears in engagement with said bevel pinions, clutch controlled means associated with one of said shaft sections for driving the drill stem rotary, selectively operable drum-driving means associated with said other shaft section for varying the load thereon, clutch means operable to couple said driven gear and line shaft sections together as a unit, and a clutch controlled high speed driving means for coupling said first mentioned shaft section with said drum shaft.

2. in a rotary drive and draw works including a frame, a drum shaft journalled therein and having a drum for attachment of the drill supporting cable, a line shaft com prising independently rotatable sections journalled in said frame and having their inner ends interiitting to define a bearing whereby to maintain the said shaft sections in alineincnt, a driven gear loosely ournalled upon one of said shaft sections and receiving powefi' from a suitable source, bevel gears rigidly mounted upon said shaft sections adjacent the inner ends thereof and in spaced relation to each other, a spider rigidly fastened to one side of said driven gear and surrounding said bevel gears, bevcl pinions journailed in said spider transversely of the axis of said line shaft and engaged by each of said bevel gears, a casing rigidly secured to said frame intermediate the sides thereof and into which said shaft sections extend, said casing comprising separate sections, the inner ends of said sections providing shoulders engaging the opposite faces of said driven gear to hold the same against axial movement on said line shaft, means for securing said casing sections together beyond the periphery of said gear, the inner fact portions of said driven gear and the outer end of said spider engaging the outer faces of said bevel gears to hold the inner ends of said shaft sections in bearing engagement and the bevel gears in engagement with said bevel pinions, clutch controlled means associated with one of said shaft sections for driving the drill stem rotary, and selectively operable drum driving means associated with said other shaft section for varying the load thereon.

3. In a rotary drive and draw works including a frame, a drum shaft journalled therein and having a drum for attachment of the drill supporting cable, a line shaft comprising independently rotatable sections journalled in said frame and having their inner ends interfitting to define a bearing whereby to maintain the said shaft sections in alinement, a driven gear loosely j-ournalled upon one of said shaft sections and receiving power from a suitable source, bevel gears rigidly mounted upon said shaft sections adjacent the inner ends thereof and in spaced relation to each other, a spider rigidly fastened to one side of said driven gear, and surrounding said bevel gears, bevel pinions journalled in said spider transversely of the axis of said line shaft and engaged by each of said bevel gears, a casing rigidly secured to said frame intermediate the sides thereof and into which said shaft sections extend, said casing comprising separate sections, the inner ends of said sections providing shoulders engaging the, opposite faces of said driven gear to hold the same against axial movement on said line shaft, means for securing said casing sections together beyond the periphery of said gear, clutch controlled means associated with one of said shaft sections for driving the drill stem rotary, selectively operable drum driving means associated with said other shaft section for varying the load thereon, and clutch means operable to couple said driven gear and line shaft sections together as a unit.

4. In a rotary drive and draw works, a line shaft comprising independently rotatable sections having cooperating self carried hearing means associated with their inner ends to support the intermediate portion of said shaft, a driven gear loosely journalled upon one of said shaft sections, a drive gear keyed to each of said shaft sections adjacent the inner ends thereof, a spider rigidly secured to said driven gear, pinions journalled in said spider and transversely of the axis of said line shaft, said pinions engaging the respective drive gears, the said spider and driven gear cooperating with said drive gears to prevent axial movement of said shaft sections to disengage the inner ends thereof, one of said shaft sections having a clutch controlled driving connection with a drill stem rotary, the other shaft section having means associated therewith for winding a drill supporting cable, and gearing strain relief and cutout clutch means for connecting said shaft sections directly to said driven gear and spider whereby to solidly connect said sections into a substantially unitary line shaft.

5. In a rotary drive and draw works, a line shaft comprising alined and rotatably connected sections, a driven gear loosely journalled on one of said sections, differential gearing in part carried by said driven gear and in part carried by said shaft sections for driving the latter, a driving con- 1 nection between one of said shaft sections and the drill stem rotary, winding means asso a-t d W t s i o e s af seqtiqn Q 'Q .t hmen -o th d i l e supporting .Qeble ,the load of said ,drill stem ,on said second mentioned shaftsection tending to hold the same stationary in the normal drilling ,operation, and a differential gearing strain .relief and cutout comprising clutch means for locking said driven gear and shaft sections together to-rotate as a unit solely through rotation of said driven gear and independently,of said differential gearing.

a e a y d v and aw Works ncluding a frame, a line shaft comprising alined and rotatabiy connected ,Sfictions, one having means to drive the rotary and the other having means to lift the drill, a driven gear loosely journalled on one of said sections, differential gearing in part carried by said driven gear and in part carried by said shaft sections for driving the latter, the driven gear carried portion of said differential gearing having means for holding said shaft sections in rotatable engagement, the

drill lifting means of said second shaft section including selectively operable sets of different ratio gearing whereby the drill stem load on said section may be varied with respect to the torque load on the other shaft section, and differential gearing strain relief ,1

and cutout clutch means for coupling said shaft sections to said driven gear whereby the entire line shaft may be directly driven as a unit.

7. A line shaft for a rotary drive and draw works comprising a casing, shaft sections in said casing and arranged end to end, a differential gearing drive means for said'sections and including a driven frame portion rotatably supported thereon, and diflerential gearing cutout and strain relief means ineluding clutch means for coupling said frame portion to each of said shaft sections whereby the same may be driven as a unit solely through said frame portion.

8. A differentiahincorporating rotary drive and draw works including a frame and a line shaft journalled therein, a casing fixedly carried by said frame, said line shaft comprising alined sections and having their adjacent ends journalled in said casing, clutch controlled drum shaft driving means associated with each line shaft section, a clutch controlled drive connection between one line shaft section and the rotary, a differential gearing drive for said line shaft sections within said casing and including a frame rotatably supported by said sections, driving means for said frame, and differential gearing cutout and strain relief means including clutch means for positively coupling each line shaft section to the adjacent side of said differential drive frame whereby said shaft, sections and difierential frames may be positively driven as a unit,

9. In a rotary drive and draw Works having a Winding drum, a line shaft comprising alined sections and a driven differential drive containing casing jonrnalled on said line shaft sections and having gearing therein providing a differential driving connection therewith; the combination of a clutch controlled drnm shaft driving means associated with each line shaft section, a clutch con- 10 trolled rotary drive means associated with one line shaft section, and differential gearing cutout and strain relief means for clutching each line shaft section to the differential drive unit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEE J. BLACK. 

